Improvement in lanterns



A. TUFTS.

Lantern;

Patented Axjg. 29, 1865.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS TUF'IS, OF MAIDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LANTERNS Specification forming part dated August 29, 1865.

To all-whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS TUFTs, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Lantern 3 and I do hereby declare that the following, takenin connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

This invention consists in the construction of lanterns, substantially as hereinafter set forth, so that each fitting or the metallic top or bottom part of the lantern is coupled to and locked in place on the glass without employment of cement of any kind, and without connecting or securing one fitting to the other, and so that they, or either of them, can be unlocked and removed at pleasure to facilitate cleaning of the glass or to replace a broken glass with a whole one.

Figure 1 shows, in elevation, a lantern-glass with its base-fittin gs in the position which they have when in place, with-the lantern in readiness for use and with the top fittings removed to show the formation of the glass by which the fitting is secured, this formation being the same, except in size, at both top and bottom of the glass. Fig. 2 shows, in vertical section, enough of the top fitting and of the lanternglass to illustrate the relative relation of the parts when locked together ready for use. Fig. 3 shows the top of the glass in plan, and Fig. 4 shows the top fitting in reversed plan.

The glass is made with a shoulder, a, at each end, beyond which project the cylindrical portions 1), they being provided with projectin g bands 0, portions of which areremoved,

as at d d, so that the ears 6 e on the fittings can slip through the openings d d till the upper edge of the lower fitting and the lower edge of the upper fitting abut upon the shoulders Ct to of the glass. It will now be evident that the fittings can be turned around upon the glass so as to bring the cars a under the rings 0, whereby the parts become coupled together. Now, to prevent accidental uncoupling of the parts, openings are made through the cylindrical portions 1) of the glass atf f, and spring catches or latches g g are provided, of substantially the form shown in Fig. 2, so as to come upon the inside of the glass as the ears 6 e are slid down through the openings d. \Vhen these cars can be passed under the projecting ring 0 the fitting can be turned upon the glass till the catchesg g spring into the openings or slots formed in the glass at f f, and this, preventing further rotation, keeps the parts from accidental disengagement.

VVheu the parts are to be uncoupled the spring-catches are forced inward by applying pressure thereunto through the knobs it, and when the catches are disengaged from the openingsffthen the fittings may be turned till the ears 6 0 come opposite the places at d, and the lantern may then be dismembered.

I claim- The construction of a lantern, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hand this 11th day of March, A. D. 1865.

AUGUSTUS TUFTS.

In presence of- J. B. CROSBY, F. GOULD.

hereunto set my 

